And there’s further proof that free agency is a game intended for men in their 20s.

Several readers have expressed consternation regarding the fact that the Steelers received only a fifth-round pick as compensation for the departure in 2008 of Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca.

We’ve seen in the comments assertions that the rules cap the compensatory pick at that level when the departing free agent older than 30.

Per John Clayton of ESPN.com, that’s precisely the case.

Responding to a reader in a Q&A column, Clayton wrote the following: “[T]he Steelers asked the same question at the owners’ meeting. What they found out is that a departing free agent older than 30 can’t net anything better than a fifth-round choice. They were banking on a third, too. They received the max value. They simply didn’t know the rule that has been there for a few years in the compensatory formula.”

Though it’s unknown whether the Steelers would have opted to use the franchise tag on Faneca if they’d known that they’d only get a fifth-round selection this year for letting him walk, it seems unfair that the league would use age-based restrictions on such matters.

If as in Faneca’s case the player is regarded by another team as sufficiently valuable to result in a five-year, $40 million deal, the fact that the player is on the wrong side of 30 shouldn’t matter.

Meanwhile, we’ll wait for the folks who are convinced that the league office is in the tank for the Rooneys to explain that the Steelers got the shaft this time in order to throw the dogs off the scent.

http://www.profootballtalk.com

igor0190

04-02-2009, 10:10 AM

Well at least we know the rule now... Before this explanation it clearly looked whacked that we only got a 5th for Faneca. Rules are rules I guess.

Lunchbucket

04-02-2009, 11:19 AM

poor rule,should be based on Market Value.

DahBurgh

04-02-2009, 12:30 PM

Thats ridiculous I can not believe they can do that based on age the seems a little unethical. Employers can not not not hire someone because of things like age, sex, race, religion. If you ask me its bs that people are allowed to restrict what a team can receive or offer for player just because of their age, especially Faneca.

DIESELMAN

04-02-2009, 06:27 PM

Actually, the rule is not based on age, its based on years in the league. Any player with 10 or more years in the NFL, who signs with another team, regardless of his salary, stats and post season accomplishments, would only garner a 5th round comp pick for his previous team. Clayton is a moron.....